Characteristics of repressors vs. sensitizers on selected personality variables

Abstract

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the self-report characteristics of individuals who display tendencies to approach threatening stimuli (sensitizers) with those of individuals who display tendencies to avoid threatening stimuli (repressors) in regard to: trait anxiety, state anxiety, social desirability, self-monitoring of expressive behavior, ego-strength, locus of control, and field dependence. One hundred sixty-one male (n = 119) and female (n = 43) subjects were grouped into low, intermediate, and high on the basis of responses to the Revised Repression-Sensitization Scale. Sub-jects were administered the Group Embedded Figures Test, Levenson's Locus of Control Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Marl owe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Self-Monitoring Scale and the Ego Strength Scale. Subjects were, then randomly assigned to one of three treatment conditions: Stress, watching an industrial accident film; active control, watching a neutral film; or passive control, no film. Results indicated that there are significant differences in the self-report characteristics of repressors and sensitizers. Sensitizers, as opposed to repressors reported more trait anxiety and more state anxiety under each relative condition of stress presented. Repressors had a greater need than did sensitizers to present themselves in a socially desirable fashion. Repressors exhibited greater ego-strength than did sensitizers. Repressors were more internal in perceived locus of control; sensitizers were more external. Repressors, intermediates, and sensitizers did not differ significantly in self-monitoring of expressive behavior or field orientation. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale was not successful in discriminating "true repressors," from "defensive repressors" and therefore did not support Lefcourt's "attitude toward emotionality" view of repression-sensitization. However, the Self-monitoring Scale (SM) which is conceptually, but not statistically related to the Marlowe-Crowne did approach significance in its ability to discriminate "true repressors" to a significant degree...